Workman&#39;s time-recording system.



J. A. DEMUTH.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDING SYSTE-M;

APPLICATION FILED APR- 5, I917. 1,267,989, Patented May 28, 1918 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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J. A. DEMUTH. WORKMANS TIM}; RECORDING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 6. l9l7- v Patented May 28, 1918.

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ICATION FILED APR. 6. I917- 1,267,989. Patented 28,1918.

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JOHN A. DEMUTH, OF OBERLIN, OHIO.

WORKMANS TIME-RECORDING SYSTEM.

Application filed April 6, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DEMU'IH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oberlin, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Workmens Time- Recording Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to a system for recording the time of arrival and departure of workmen. The primary objects are to provide such a system which may be simple, effective and very diiiicult to defraud. Another object is to provide a system which may be easily put into practice and be capable of use with comparatively inexpensive equipment. Still another object is to so arrange the system that it may render the work of the time clerks comparatively easy and facilitate accurate and rapid computation of the time for which each workman is to be paid.

It has heretofore been common practice to provide time clocks equipped with a mecha nism for recording the time of entry and dcparture on an individual card for each workman. Such a system requires a comparatively expensive equipment including such a clock and printing mechanism, and racks for the cards of each group of workmen. Another method is the use of a clock equipped with printing mechanism adapted to record the time of actuation for a number of employees on a record sheet by the individual workman moving a lever to his number on a dial and actuating the lever at that point. Such systems lend themselves readily to fraudulent record by the workmen, it being a comparatively easy matter, for example, for one workman to ring in or punch the card for another.

To avoid the above and other methods of fraud in the recording of the amount of time each employee works, I have devised a system wherein the workman records the time by copying a symbol or code sign displayed by a clock and actuated so that each symbol corresponds to a certain time. Thus it is only necessary to provide one of such clocks in an entry room, in view of many workmen who simultaneously may record their times of entry or departure on various record strips provided for that pur- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Serial No. 160,302.

pose. These record strips may conveniently be contained in suitable casings positioned for convenient registration by several groups of workmen, a suitable number of workmen being assigned to register at each place.

The record strip carrying the names and numbers of various workmen preceded by the sign or symbol corresponding to the time of entry or departure may be removed from the casing by the time clerk, and the record tabulated on a summarizing sheet on which the time for a pay period may be computed for the group of workmen registering at the place where that record strip was used. I

To prevent a symbol being repeated to represent the same time for consecutive hour or twelve hour periods, I arrange these symbols so that the number thereof is not the same as the number of periods into which the hour or twelve hours is divided, and cause the symbols to be advanced or changed regularly at the expiration of these periods. Thus the relation of each symbol to the position of the clock hands is constantly changed. This prevents a workman from memorizing a symbol displayed at a certain time and successfully using that symbol to falsely indicate entry at a corresponding later time. For example, the symbol KN, representing 8:00 oclock Thursday, March 1st, may not again represent or correspond to 8 :00 oclock for many days or months.

To illustrate the use of my system, I have shown in the drawings a convenient apparatus for carrying it out, and will now more fully describe the same in connection therewith. The essential characteristics of the invention are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock presenting a time symbol; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale illustrating the mechanism controlling the movement of the symbol belt; Fig. 4 is a section at right angles to Fig. 3 substantially on the line of that figure; Fig. 5 is a. similar section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a portion of the clock mechanism and the means for controlling the actuation of the symbol belt; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a casing or container for the record strip, showing the writing openings; Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of a record strip after receiving the signatures and two-minute periods.

time symbols of the several workmen assigned to the box from which the strip was taken; Fig. 9 shows a portion of a key device for interpreting thesymbols.

Describing my mechanism by the use of reference characters, 10 indicates a clock casing carrying at its upper portion suitable mechanism actuating the hands of a clock dial 12 and controlling the movement of the symbol belt 14 to present various symbols at an opening 15 in the front wall 13 of the clock casing.

As shown, the clock mechanism proper has a suitable frame 16, carrying a spring 17 actuating a gear 18, transmitting movement through intermediate gearing indicated at 19 to a spindle 20 carrying a series of stepped-toothed star wheels 22, each having its teeth offset with relation to the next adjacent wheel to present a series of evenly spaced teeth dividing the hour into a number of equal periods, for example, thirty Thus, the star wheels are provided with six teeth and arranged to coact with a small lever 23 pivoted at 24 to the frame 16. These levers are connected by flexible members 25 with vertically movable actuating weights 26. As shown, these flexible members 25 are guided over pulleys 27 so that they may rise vertically from the weights 26 and then extend inwardly slightly to the operating levers 23, although it is to be understood that the connection between the operating weights and these levers might be a rigid connection or the weights themselves might extend directly to the levers, as mechanical expediency requires. The weights 26 are shown as slidably guided in a block 30 secured to the side wall of the casing 10.

The movement of the spindle 20 and star wheels 22 is in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 6 and as the wheels are rotated the various levers 23 are lifted and then they are released one by one, each dropping from one tooth of its star wheel to the next. In dropping, the correspond ing weight 26 is caused to strike the laterally extended end 32 of a lever 31 pivoted at 33 to a bracket 29 extending from the rear wall of the clock casing. The force of the blow raises the right hand end of the lever and withdraws a dog 34, carried by the lever, from engagement with one of the teeth 35 formed in the periphery of one of the flanges 36 of a drum 37 over which the symbol belt 14 is guided. This drum is shown as mounted on a spindle 38 carried by brackets 39 extending from the rear wall, of the casing, and this spindle is shown as driven by constant tension spring actuated mechanism.

The mechanism driving the spindle 38 is mounted in a frame 40 and preferably coniprises a spring 44 actuating a gear 42 which drives a pinion 43 rigid with the gear 44, in turn driving a gear rigid on the spindle 38. A shaft 46 is shown as extending trans versely through the clock casing and is provided with a square portion 47 at its outer end to which may be fitted a crank 48 for winding the spring 41. This shaft extends into and is attached to the inner end of the spring and is retained in any position given it by a pawl 49 coacting with a ratchet tooth wheel 50. The outer end of the spring is connected by a clip 51 with the gear wheel 42.

Consequent upon one of the levers 23 dropping off from a tooth of its star wheel, the weight supported thereby will drop from its uppermost position to the transverse head 32 on the lever 31, momentarily overcoming the tension of a spring 53, shown as attached to the lever and to the block 30, thus withdrawing the tooth 34 from engagement with one of the teeth of the flange The spring 41, acting through the gearing described, promptly advances the drum 37 and the belt, while the spring 53 urges the dog 34 into engagement with the flange by overcoming the weight of the member 26, thus causing this dog to engage the next tooth and stop the movement of the drum. The teeth of the flange 36 are preferably so spaced that each advance of the belt presents the next successive symbol to the opening 15. To cause the belt to be advanced accurately, I have provided eyelets 54 therein spaced between the symbols and adapted to be engaged by short rounded pegs or teeth 55 on the drum 37.

The belt 14 may be guided over a corresponding drum in the lower portion of the clock casing, but to provide a longer belt carrying a larger number of symbols without unduly increasing the size of the clock casing, I prefer to provide two rollers 60 spaced apart in the lower portion of the casingand loop the intermediate portion of the belt upwardly over a roller 62 closely adjacent the drum 37 as indicated in Fig. The rollers 60 and 62 are merely guiding rollers or idlers, and they may be arranged in any suitable fashion or additional rollers may be provided to further loop the belt, allowing it to be made still longer or the casing to be more condensed. It will be seen that the forward reach of this belt is arranged close to the front wall 13 of the casing so that the numbers at either side of the opening 15 may not be seen. The belt is preferably protected by a glass closure 63 mounted across the opening 15.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a writing box in which a record strip may be carried. A

convenient arrangement for such a box 65 is substantially rectangular, there being a supply roll 66 pivoted at one end and a winding oradvancing roll 67 at the opposite end, shown as actuated by a ratchet wheel 68 with which a pawl 69 coacts, this pawl being actuated by a lever 70 pivoted in the wall of the box and standing outside thereof. The record strip is guided closely beneath a plate 73 which is provided with a pair of offset writing openings 74 and 7 5. The workman may write the symbol appearing on the clock, and his name in the opening 74 and then actuate the lever 72 to move the ratchet wheel 68 and take-up roller 67, thus advancing the record strip 64 presenting a blank space at the opening 75, in which he may write his number. This completes his registration, butleaves the number standing while the name and symbol are concealed. The next workman, after writing the symbol and signing his name, notices a number in the opening which reminds him to actuate the lever to advance the record strip and write his own number. The advancing is merely to bring the name in alinement with the number, thus producing a record such as shown in Fig. 8.

A more complete description of the op eration of my invention thus far described is as follows: Take for example a factory employing two hundred workmen, an entrance room is provided through which all the workmen must pass in entering or leaving the factory. In this room is mounted the time clock in a conspicuous place, and in various positions from which the symbol at the opening 15 of the clock may be easily read, are placed record strips in the boxes or casings, such as described. A group of workmen are assigned to each box, those of one group preferably having the same rate of pay, although the reason for assignment to a box at a given place or a given number need not be disclosed. Each workman, upon entering the factory, proceeds to the box to which he is assigned, takes a pencil provided for the purpose and noting the symbol displayed by the clock, writes this symbol, for example KN, and then advances the strip by actuating the lever to present a blank space in the opening 75, whereupon he writes his number in that opening. He then passes into the factory, and another workman assigned to that box may register. At the same time several other workmen may be registering at the various boxes. If, for example, twenty workmen are assigned to a box at one point of registration, ten of these boxes are provided for the two hundred workmen. Upon leaving the factory each employee repeats the above operation.

A record thus provided corresponds to that shown in Fig. 8. The time clerk placing the record strip in position each morning or each registration period may stamp or otherwise note the date and time, as indicated in the upper portion of the strip in F 1g. 8, and as each man slgns the strip is advanced, as described, automatically arranging the names in a consecutive column.

The symbols used are preferably letter combinations, the use of combinations of two letters providing a sufficient number. The time clerk transfers the record on this strip to a summarizing time sheet, having thereon the names of the workmen of a particular place of registration, spaces for inclicating the time of entering or leaving, and at the same time he checks the correctness of the workmens entries.

In transferring the record from the workmens record strip to the summarizing sheet, the time clerk, knowing the symbol presented at the time to start work, sees at a. glance that all the names appearing above or previous to that symbol and including those using that symbol are on time. To make sure of the correctness of these entries he need only refer to a list of symbols corresponding to their arrangement on the symbol belt to learn whether they are in proper and consecutive order. By the same method he may determine how late those workmen were whose names appear after the symbol. For example, referring to the record strip shown in Fig. 8, he notes that the symbol corresponding to the time for starting work was KN, which corresponds to 8:00 oclock (Fig. 1). Three names were entered with this symbol, indicating that they all registered within the two minute period of 8:00 oelock and those preceding these three names, using the symbols TH, KZ, EB, etc., were on time, and he finds that these are correct and in the proper order. Those appearing after the symbol KN, he notes were late, and to determine the time that they are late, he counts the number of symbols between the KN symbol and the symbol written, thereby learning the number of time periods intervening. Such a list of the symbols may be amplified to provide a complete key to the code.

A convenient key for use under the vary ing conditions that arise is illustrated in Fig. 9. This device represents any convenient means for indicating a symbol displayed at a given time. As shown, it comprises a disk pivoted at 81 to a board or plate 8-2, shown as carried in a suitable frame 8a, the zone surrounding the disk being covered by a sheet 85 having its central portion cut out to clear the disk. The disk is shown as carrying at its periphery a row of spaces in which are marked all of the symbols, of the belt 14:, in their proper order. At the border at the opening of the sheet 85 are equally arranged spaces containing numerals from 2 to 120, by twos (using all the even numbers inclusive), cor- 1 displayed at the time for beginning work,

responding to two hours time. The symbol bearing belt and the disk 80 have sixtyone" symbols, or, in other words, one more than the number of periods inthe timerequired for the belt to make a complete revolution. Thus the belt is out of commensurate relation to clock hands so that it may be constantly changing its relation thereto and will repeat a symbol for a given'time only after a great many intermediate revolu tions.

In using this key device to determine the symbol displayed either before or after a certain time, it is only necessary to note the symbol and the time of the clock at the present and then rotate the disk to bring the symbol displayed opposite the blank space 87 on the border of thesheet 85, and

then count forwardly or backwardly the number of intervals or minutes lntervenmg between the present and the time of the symbol it is desired to learn. F or example, assuming that thetime clerk, in the course of his work, reaehesthe record strip, indicated in Fig. 8, on the same morning it was made, he may have either noted the symbol or he may look at theclock, and noting its symbol and the time intervening betweenthat and 8:00 oclock, move the disk to set the present symbol at the number on the sheet 85 corresponding to the number of minutes elapsed since 8 :00 oclock. In the latter case,

say he is ready to work on the strip at 9 :36, he notes that ZL is the symbol displayed by the clock at that time and moves the disk 80 topresent ZL to 96, the number of minutes since 8 :00 oclock. He then merely has to note the symbol standing opposite the blank space 87, which will correspond to the one displayed by the clock at 8 :OOoclock; It will be seen that if it is desired to learn a symbol displayed at a time many hours previ ous, it is only necessary to move the CllSk backwardly as many symbols as there are two hour periods intervening, and then treat the number of minutes over the two hour period as just described.

For convenience in counting time both ways, I provide a second zone outside the first on the sheet 85 and carrying the even numbers from 2 to 120 numbered in the" opposite order with relation to the inner rowof numbers on this sheet. Th1s device may be rendered more convenient by the use of a similar zone of numbers inside the zone of symbols on the disk 80,'and a third zone of spaced apart multiples of ten, in red ink, such as 80, 40, 50, etc., serving as indexes to this row of numbers may be convenient.

Any suitable'means for rotating the disk 80 may be used. I have found it convenient, however, to provlde a series of openings 88 through the disk and a groove 89 in the dicates ninety-six minutes late. "ILPPIOXHTRLtGlY correct, is also checked and board on which the disk is mounted. This groove allows a pencil point to be inserted intothe openings 88 to rotate the disk.

For the names appearing after the 8:00 oclock, their symbols may be checked from the code key to learn the time which they are late, but, for convenience, the workmen may be required to write, previous to their names, the number of minutes or the tune which they are late.

set on the disk in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, it will be seen how readily the respec tive times of entrance of Edmunson, Smith and Jones may be checked up, the munbers merely guiding the eye more quickly to the symbol to be checked. Thus--5 might be l 01"6. We note that it is the symbol for 4, and is approximately correct, and therefore is checked and transferred to the time sheet; 6 is TB, very quickly found; one hour and thirty-five minutes late equals ninety five minutes. Accordingly we look at 94 and 96. We find that symbol ZL in- It, being transferred to the time sheet.

I have found that registration of each workman takes substantially as long as with present methods, insome cases a few seconds longer, but, owing to the convenience and cheapness of installing this system and arranging for a large number of workmen to register at the same instant, my system has the advantage in these characteristics.

Furthermore, it renders simple the task of computing and summarizing the workmens time. I have found that with a time sheet having the names listed in a vertical column and ruled toshow spaces opposite each name for the time of entering and leaving each day throughout a period of pay, the time may be very quickly checked "and transferred to such a sheet, eliminating conslderable work now encountered in the handling of time cards, or the computations from printed sheets. In such systems the identification of the workman is by number only, and the late and early. registrations must be selected from the printed sheets and transferred to still another sheet for computation, which usually-involves subtract ing time fromtime. Accordingly, my system, saves time and expense, both in the registration and in the time clerks-ofiice,

register one for another as in previous systems. Secondly, if they do attempt such fraudulent registration there are many ways of detecting it. In the first place the workmen need not know why they register at a certain box, and if the worknians name appears in the wrong box, owing to such an attempt, the irregularity is immediately discovered and the signature may be examined. If one workman, while making his own registration, stands at the same box and registers for a companion, the similarity of the writing immediately catches the eye of the time clerk, whereupon he investigates the time of arrival of both workmen whose entries appear to be in question. If a workman attempts to remember the symbol presented one morning and uses the same the next, it will be out of order and immediately attract attention of the clerk, or if one workman inside the factory should transmit information to another outside, (as for example by calling out of the window to a fellow workman) such symbol would appear on the record strip after other earlier symbols and could immediately be detected. The above are examples of the ways in which fraud might be attempted, and illustrate a few of the methods of detecting the same,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of a clock, a series of cryptic symbols, means controlled by the clock for successively displaying the symbols at predetermined intervals, recording means whereby the workmen may register the time of entry or departure by noting the symbol displayed, and a code to interpret the notations of the workmen.

2. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of a clock, a series of cryptic symbols, means controlled by the clock for successively displaying the symbols at predetermined intervals, means whereby workmen may note a symbol displayed and a code to determine the time of displaying any certain symbol.

3. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of a clock, a series of cryptic symbols, and means for advancing and displaying the symbols, said means being controlled by the clock, and a record sheet on which workmen may register time of entry or departure by entering the symbol displayed.

4. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of means carrying a pluralit of cryptic symbols and adapted to disp only one symbol at a time, meeha nism for advancing the symbols at measured time intervals, whereby the workmen may register the time of entry by copying the symbol displayed opposite an entry identifying themselvesl 5. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of means carrying a series of cryptic symbols, a casing containing such means and having an opening through which one of said symbols may be visible, means for advancing the symbols to present them in succession at predetermined intervals, a record strip, means containing said record strip and having a writing opening where workmen may make an entry identifying themselves, and record the symbol displayed.

6. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of means carrying a series of cryptic symbols, a casing containing such means and having an opening through which one of said symbols may be visible, means for advancing the symbols to present them in succession to said opening at measured intervals, a record strip, a casing inclosing said record strip and having a writing opening at which workmen may make an entry identifying themselves and record the symbol displayed, and means for advancing the strip to conceal the last written symbol.

7. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of a clock, means carrying a plurality of cryptic symbols, a casing surrounding said means and adapted to dis play one symbol at a time, means connecting the symbol carrying means with the clock mechanism to cause the symbols to be advanced at measured intervals, and means whereby a workman may record a definite time by copying the symbol displayed.

8. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of a belt having thereon a series of cryptic symbols, a casing containing the belt and having an opening dis-. playing one symbol at a time, mechanism for advancing the belt periodically to dis play the successive symbols, a record sheet on which workmen may note symbols to indicate corresponding times.

9. In a system of the character described, the combination of a belt having thereon a series of successively arranged code symbols, rollers carrying the belt, a casing in which the rollers are mounted and inclosing the belt and having an opening adapted to display only a portion of the belt, mechanism for advancing the belt to present the different symbols to the opening, a clock, means whereby the clock may cause the actuation of such mechanism at measured intervals, and a record sheet for workmens entry of symbols.

10. In a system of the character described, the combination of a series of cryptic symbols, means for displayin said symbols successively at measured intervals, a record sheet for workniens entry, a casing therefor and a Writing opening wherein he may copy the symbol displayed and make an entry identifying himself, and means for advancing "the record strip to conceal the last entry.

11. In a system of the character described, the combination of a seres of cryptic symbols, means for displaying one of said symbols at a time and for displaying subsequent symbols at measured intervals, a record sheet for Workmens entries, a Gasing therefor and a writing opening wherein he may copy the symbol displayed, make an entry identifying himself, and means at the casing connected With the record strip whereby the workman may advance the strip to move the last entry away from the writing opening toconceal the same.

12. In a system of the character d escribed, the combination of a series of cryptic symbols, means for successively displaylllg said symbols at measured intervals, a record sheet for Workrnens entry, a casing therefor and a writing opening wherein he may copy the symbol displayed and make an entry identifying himself, said writing opening having an offset portion inw'hich the workman must make an entry to complete his registration necessitating concealing such symbol before his entry is completed.

13. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of means for display in'g successively a series of code symbols at measured intervals corresponding to predetermined periods of time, and a code device for determining-- the symbol displayed at an earlier or later time, comprising av movable member on which the symbols are displayed in their regular order and an adjacent member carrying correspondingly spaced notations of tiine represel'iting said intervals:

v 14. In a werkmens time recording system, the comblna'tion of means carrying a SBIIGS: of code symbols, means for displaying said symbols successively and at predetermined intervals includinga time measuring instrument controlling the advancement of the symbols, the number of said symbols being more or less than that into which certain hour periods are divided, whereby frequent repetition of a symbol to indicate a certain time is avoided.

15. In a workmens time recording system, the combination of means carrying a series of code symbols, means for displaying said symbols successively and at predetermined intervals including a time measuring instrument controlling the advancement of the symbols, the number of said symbols being a different number than that into which certain hour' periods are divided, whereby frequent repetition'of a symbol to indicate a certain time is avoided, and means for determining the symbol displayed at an earlier or later time, comprising relatively movable members one of which carries spaces in which the symbols are arranged in their proper order and the other of which has correspondingly spaced notations arranged to correspond to the divisions of time at which the successive symbols are displayed.

16'. The combination With a time measuring instrument, of means carrying a series of cryptic symbols and adapted to display one at a time, mechanism for advancing said means to display successive symbols at predetermined intervals, the number of symbols being out of comn'ien'surate relation to the number of intervals so that a symbol may not be repeated to represent a certain time except after a large number of complete movements of the symbol carrying means, and a key to thecode system thus provided, arranged to determii'ie symbols displayed earlier or later than a given time.

p In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature. r

V JOHN A. DEMUTH. WVitnesse's:

L HOR A. Z. TILLoTsoN.

copies of this par-eat may b obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe odmmi ssidner of] races. Washington, 11. c. 

